By Tony Astran

The unforgettable academic year for the SUNY China 150 students comes to a close today as a contingent of faculty accompanies the students to SUNY Farmingdale, where participants from all SUNY campuses will reunite. The group will then travel to New York on Saturday for a special farewell ceremony with Chinese Consul General Peng Keyu before departing for Beijing.

Scott Johnson, interim dean of University College, is one of the faculty members traveling across the state with the students. He said the collaboration across departments throughout the academic year was exceptional.

“The students touched so many places on campus,” Johnson said. “It’s remarkable how quickly we organized efforts for their arrival with such a short amount of time. It was a total effort to create a diverse, fun, and academically rigorous experience for the students.”

The Payroll Office worked with students to explain and help fill out required federal forms to receive scholarship benefits on campus. Counseling Center staff were ready to assist the students whenever needed, such as during times of initial culture shock and homesickness. And the International Student Affairs Office worked diligently to assign each student to a nearby host family.

Jean Gounard, director of international student affairs, was so impressed by the success of SUNY China 150 that he organized a campus committee earlier this semester to focus on attracting and retaining international student scholars. “I hope all international students in the future can have a similar experience,” he said. “The committee has been meeting with departments across campus and is writing a report on how to serve all international students in a proper way.”

Gounard and Johnson also worked with others to organize three mentor programs comprising students in the residence halls, Chinese student peers, and faculty. Each of the 17 students had a unique faculty mentor, and many close relationships were formed.

“The mentors made sure the students were succeeding academically, becoming socially acclimated, and gaining insight into the American education system,” Johnson said.

Mentor Michael Lazich, associate professor of history and social studies education, recalled his experiences with his student, Deng Xia, as positive and insightful.

“I had many occasions to chat with Deng and her Chinese friends about a whole range of issues relating to life in America,” he said. During the last class, she and two other students in his Modern History of China course answered questions about their lives in China and their experience as Chinese college students. “The American students clearly relished the opportunity to hear them talk,” Lazich said.

The 17 students also joined other international students in ENG 461 Young-Adult Literature for the English Conversation Partners Program, spearheaded by Gounard and Barbara Bontempo, professor of English. The class not only helped international students hone their English skills but also allowed them to share ideas, personal stories, and cultural folklore with students studying English language arts.

Recognizing that the students were unprepared for Buffalo’s climate, mentor Stephen Gareau, assistant professor of computer information systems, and Father Patrick Zengierski, director of the Newman Center, helped organized a winter clothing drive. Generous donations yielded dozens of boots, gloves, winter coats, and assorted clothing.

Mentor Ruth Guo, assistant professor of computer information systems, organized a celebration for Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) in January. According to Gareau, Guo taught the Chinese students how to cook dumplings, which are considered a comfort food in China.

“Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival in China,” Guo said. “I knew the students would miss home at that time, so a few faculty members and I decided to spend some time with them in their residence hall.”

The students enjoyed other fun activities throughout the year such as a conference in Boston during Thanksgiving break, a week of relaxation in Florida during winter break, and skiing at Kissing Bridge.

Gounard also spearheaded the Richard LeCastre Memorial Reentry Program to prepare students for their return to China. According to Gounard, the program, named for an acquaintance who was dedicated to helping international students, has been successful in helping other international students re-acclimate. Twenty-seven of the SUNY China 150 students, representing eight SUNY campuses, convened March 14 at Buffalo State for lunch and a series of presentations and discussions with Buffalo State faculty and staff about reverse cultural shock.

The Buffalo State community extends a special thanks to the 17 faculty mentors: Angelo Conorozzo, lecturer of educational foundations; Jiu Feng, lead programmer and analyst for ITEC; Gareau; Virginia Grabiner, chair and associate professor of sociology; Guo; Lin Xia Jiang, professor of fine arts; Lazich; William Lin, chair and associate professor of computer information systems; Jill Norvilitis, associate professor of psychology; Wendy Paterson, chair and professor of elementary education and reading; Elaine Polvinen, professor of technology; John Song, professor of criminal justice; Tao Tang, associate professor of geography and planning; Ted Turkle, director of the Research Foundation of SUNY at Buffalo State College; Ralph Wahlstrom, chair and associate professor of English; Zhang Jie, professor of sociology and director of the Center for China Studies; and Shiwei Zhang, assistant manager of networking and communications for Computer and Technology Services.

The community also extends a heartfelt thanks and best wishes for success to the 17 students who will forever be part of the Buffalo State family: Ling Chen, Xia Deng, Yanlin Deng, Ping Liang, Yuchan Shu, Chang Su, Xuerui Sun, Ziwei Tan, Longpan Wang, Jun Wei, Li Xie, Hongbin Yang, Xin Yin, Yue Yuan, Xintao Zeng, Lin Zheng, and Xue Zhong.

A presentation at the April 28, 2009, College Council meeting by three of the SUNY China 150 students about their experiences at Buffalo State is available online as a podcast and video.

By Mary A. Durlak

The Americas have been inhabited for thousands of years, long before Europeans migrated here. The new indigenous studies minor, housed in the Anthropology Department, will provide students with an opportunity to learn more about these ancient peoples.

“Students who take this minor will develop a greater understanding and appreciation for the culture of indigenous people,” said Lisa Marie Anselmi, assistant professor of anthropology and coordinator of the minor. Anselmi is an archaeologist who studies the technology of Native Americans, especially the metalworking technology of the so-called contact period during which Europeans introduced new materials to the Americas. Anselmi teaches several of the anthropology courses that can be taken as part of the minor.

However, the minor is interdisciplinary and draws on courses in several departments, including English, History and Social Studies Education, Geography and Planning, and Modern and Classical Languages, which offers courses in the Seneca language.

“I’m very excited about Jeanine Bowen, who teaches Seneca,” said Deborah Hovland, associate professor and chair of the Modern and Classical Languages Department. “Her classroom style is very hands-on, and she includes culture acquisition as well as language acquisition.”

Lori Quigley, associate dean of the School of Education and a member of the Seneca Nation, is very excited about the new minor. “I’m so pleased that we are offering this program here,” she said. “It’s not only a great opportunity for our students; it’s also a great recruitment tool for Native American students, who are looking for colleges that offer programs in indigenous studies.”

After looking at such programs at other colleges, Quigley believes that the Buffalo State minor is cutting-edge because it gives students the option of studying the Seneca language and draws from different disciplines. “We hope to include more departments in the future,” she said.

When the 21-credit-hour program begins in fall 2009, students can choose four required courses from a list of five options. Students also must complete an internship or independent project or study. “This requirement will enable each student to integrate the minor with his or her own area of interest,” said Anselmi.

Students can also choose two courses from a list of nine that includes studies in arctic geography from an Inuit perspective, Aztec and Mayan history, archaeology, and art and culture from an anthropological perspective.

Anselmi teaches two courses that study, respectively, indigenous peoples of western North America and of eastern North America. “We study the cultures using ethnohistory,” said Anselmi. “We draw on information from archaeology, on historical documents from the records of both the First Nations and the Europeans, and on oral traditions.”

The program is not solely historical. Students will also explore cultural, legal, and political issues that continue to affect indigenous people today.

“Aftermath and Renewal: Reclaiming the Critical Ideal,” the 2009 Union for Democratic Communications (UDC) international conference at Buffalo State College May 28–31, will include a roster of high-profile communication experts, including Emmy Award–winning producer Danny Schechter.

The UDC is an organization of communication researchers, journalists, media producers, policy analysts, academics, and activists that encourages critical perspectives in communication theory, media production, and the study of popular culture.

The conference, under the direction of Michael Niman, associate professor of journalism, will feature about 40 panel discussions and four plenary addresses, and will focus on successful stories of media activism, praxis, and radical pedagogy.

Schechter, who will address conference attendees at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, in Bulger Communication Center North, is an investigative reporter, author, filmmaker, and one of the nation’s most prominent media critics. He is the founder and executive editor of MediaChannel.org, the world’s largest online media issues network.

Schechter joined the staff at CNN as a producer based in Atlanta before moving to ABC to work as a producer for 20/20, where during his eight years he won two national news Emmys. He has reported from 47 countries and lectured at many schools and universities. He was an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. His writing has appeared in leading newspapers and magazines including the Nation, Newsday, the Boston Globe, and the Columbia Journalism Review.

Schechter holds a bachelor’s degree in labor history from Cornell University, a master’s in political sociology from the London School of Economics, and a Nieman Fellowship in Journalism from Harvard University. His work has been honored with Emmy awards, the IRIS Award, the George Polk Award, the Major Armstrong Award, and honors from the National Association of Black Journalists. His books include Embedded—Weapons of Mass Deception: How the Media Failed to Cover the War in Iraq; Media Wars: News at a Time of Terror; and The More You Watch the Less You Know. His recent films include Weapons of Mass Deception and In Debt We Trust.

Schechter’s talk is free for members of the Buffalo State community. Buffalo State’s Communication Department is cohosting the conference with Niagara University’s Communication Studies Department. E-mail UDC2009@gmail.com for more information.

By Tony Astran

The Alumni Affairs Office has launched a new online community with the goal of better connecting alumni to Buffalo State. The site has a variety of features that allow users to easily learn what is happening at the college and discover ways to offer support.

The community answers multiple alumni needs, according to Kelly Mazella, staff assistant for alumni affairs. Mazella will manage the community.

“Many alumni have told us they’ve wanted a lifetime Buffalo State e-mail address and an online directory to connect with each other and the college,” she said. “They’re going to see that and a lot more, such as alumni chapter pages, news feeds, event listings, and career development opportunities.”

The online community will allow alumni to create personal profiles, post photos, share accomplishments, and participate in forums and polls to share ideas on topics. It will also link to Buffalo State’s Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, and Twitter social networking sites. The College Relations Office designed the online community and works with outside vendor Harris, who hosts the site.

Alumni will also find it easier to give back to Buffalo State by registering and paying for events online and by donating via the community’s “Giving” section.

“I think there is a symbiotic relationship between friend-raising and fundraising,” Mazella said. “More than anything, we want to get alumni engaged and bring more of them back to campus.”

Mazella hopes alumni will give back in other ways, too. The online community will allow them to sign up as event volunteers or guest lecturers in classes. Alumni will also find volunteer opportunities with the Alumni Association as well as off-campus organizations such as the Asarese-Matters Community Center.

A mentoring program will link alumni to those who are registered for classes at Buffalo State, allowing former students to offer current students advice for career paths.

The community will also help alumni with their own career planning. The Alumni Affairs Office, College Relations Office, and Career Development Center have worked together to establish online functions for job searching, résumé building, and business networking. Alumni will be able to search and apply for local and national jobs, find or become a mentor, and post information about their businesses through a “yellow pages” section.

Mazella is confident the online community will “take off” once alumni begin to join the site. She is not only contacting current alumni but also would like graduating seniors to get connected. She hopes faculty and staff will help spread the word and also consider joining the community.

“Some of the strongest bonds alumni have to Buffalo State are through faculty and staff,” Mazella said. “The online community will let alumni know that there are many ways they and Buffalo State can mutually help other. We also want them to know how much we appreciate their staying connected to us.”

To join, users will need to set up their accounts using unique ID numbers they will receive in the mail or via e-mail. For more information, contact the Alumni Affairs Office: 878-6001 or alumnicommunity@buffalostate.edu.

By Jerod Dahlgren

The college’s $350 million capital construction roster starts Monday, May 18, when work on several significant projects commences. There will inevitably be some disruptions—parking and walkway reconfigurations, noise, and dust—as mentioned by Stanley Kardonsky, vice president for finance and management, during the 2009 State of the College address.

“The investment we are making in the college’s future is significant, but with progress will come some growing pains,” Kardonsky said. “Please know that we are working with our contractors to minimize the impact on the campus community. We will be making every effort to keep you informed.”

Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to visit the construction Web site for updates and advisories, including an updated Parking Impact Map reflecting affected areas of campus, and project profiles. Projects set to begin this summer include:

Electrical substation replacement
Project cost: $9.5 million
Construction start: In progress
Construction finish: January 2010

Student Union Quad rehabilitation
Project cost: $8.2 million
Construction start: May 2009
Construction finish: November 2010

Rockwell Road reconstruction
Project cost: $700,000
Construction start: May 2009
Construction finish: September 2009

Roof replacements
Project cost: $500,000
Construction start: May 2009
Construction finish: September 2009

Science and mathematics complex
Project cost: $110 million
Construction start: June 2009
Construction finish: 2014

New student housing
Project cost: $48 million
Construction start: Summer 2009
Construction finish: January 2011

Questions about campus construction can be e-mailed to VPFM@buffalostate.edu.

Parking and Transportation Committee
The college has formed a new Parking and Transportation Committee, an advisory group charged with addressing the current and future transportation and parking needs of the campus.

Committee members are Fajri Ansari (Intercollegiate Athletics), Maria Ceprano (Elementary Education and Reading), Daniel Christmann (University Police), Elizabeth Desimone (student), Kathleen Grosskopf (Financial Aid, CSEA representative), Terry Harding (Campus Services), Lisa Krieger (Finance and Management), Christian Ozolins (Intercollegiate Athletics), Matthew Reitmeier (student), James Shea (Technology Department), Richard Stempniak (Technology Department, UUP representative), and Daniel Vélez (Academic and Student Affairs).

Liaisons to the committee are Thomas Coates (Events Management), Jerod Dahlgren (College Relations), Stan Medinac (Facilities Planning), Jayme Riter (Parking Services), and Steven Shaffer (Facilities Planning).

Questions or suggestions for the committee may be e-mailed to VPFM@buffalostate.edu.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Andrea Guiati, professor of modern and classical languages and director of the All College Honors Program, to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor.

Distinguished professorships and librarian professorships constitute the highest rank bestowed upon SUNY instructional faculty. Provost Dennis Ponton noted that the distinction will be officially bestowed during the college’s Academic Convocation ceremony in September.

“It is gratifying to see Dr. Guiati, a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, promoted to the rank of Distinguished Teaching Professor,” Ponton said. “This is acknowledgement of his commitment to students and to the continuing excellence of his teaching.”

“Dr. Guiati is legendary among students and colleagues alike for his scholarship, his boundless energy, and his ability to engage and inspire,” said Buffalo State College President Muriel A. Howard. “On behalf of all of us at Buffalo State College, we extend heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Guiati for this well-deserved honor.”

The Distinguished Teaching Professorship recognizes and honors mastery of teaching at the graduate, undergraduate, or professional levels. Candidates must have demonstrated consistently superior mastery of teaching; outstanding service to students; commitment to their ongoing intellectual growth, scholarship, and professional growth; and adherence to rigorous academic standards and requirements. Further, to be eligible, a faculty member must have attained and held the rank of full professor for five years, have completed at least three years of full-time teaching on the nominating campus and 10 years of full-time teaching within the SUNY system, and have regularly carried a full-time teaching load as defined by the campus.

By Mary A. Durlak

Sociology faculty members are very excited about the renovated human interactions lab in their department. “The more we familiarize ourselves with the lab,” said Thomas S. Weinberg, professor of sociology, “the more ideas we come up with for using it.”

The new human interactions lab is a three-room suite consisting of a classroom, an equipment room, and the lab proper. The project is within the footprint of the old lab; all three rooms underwent substantial renovation. The classroom was enlarged slightly and converted to a smart classroom. The equipment room houses a new SONY TriCaster production system that controls cameras in the lab as well as sound and video recording. The equipment can also be used for editing. Innovative furnishings enable all students in the equipment room to observe the screens and control board.

The lab itself contains a table and chairs at one end. At the other end, four comfortable chairs and a small sofa cluster around a coffee table. It looks like a television studio set up for intimate on-camera interviews—which was the intention. Three small digital cameras, which can sweep over and zoom into their viewing areas, are fastened unobtrusively high up on the wall.

David Ross, chief television engineer with Instructional Resources, provided extensive technical assistance. “With the new classroom being a smart classroom,” he said, “we were able to connect output from the equipment room to the classroom.” This enables an entire class to observe a real-time small-group interaction together. To meet budget specifications as well as the department’s desire for small, unobtrusive, and quiet cameras, Ross adapted surveillance cameras for use in the lab.

“Dave was invaluable,” said Weinberg. “He guided us through every step of selecting and integrating the equipment.”

A human interactions lab is a necessity because sociology is the study of human interactions, whether those interactions are within a family or between cultures. Learning how to observe and analyze small-group interactions is a valuable tool for sociology students, enabling them to develop the skills necessary as they pursue careers or graduate work.

“The lab will give students tremendous opportunities to do research,” said Timothy McCorry, assistant professor of sociology. “The lab is comfortable, so people will be more relaxed, and students will be able to act as interviewers, participants, or observers with better results.”

Students will also be able to improve their skills at conducting research interviews, a tool necessary for practicing sociologists. “Whether a student goes on to conduct ethnographic research or to work in marketing research collecting data from focus groups,” said Weinberg, “this lab will help them develop professional-grade skills.” Students will be able to see themselves on video and learn from critiquing each other’s interviews in class.

Besides using the lab for studying group dynamics, faculty members and students will use the equipment room to edit video taken in other classes. “Our students in applied sociology classes have already used the Adobe Premier Pro software to edit a video we shot in the field,” said Gary Welborn, associate professor. “We hope to shoot more videos, because leaders in the refugee communities use them to show newcomers how to use American kitchens, Laundromats, and similar facilities.”

Weinberg said the lab can also be used to replicate some classic sociological research, such as the famous Asch conformity experiments. “Conducting research, observing small-group dynamics, and editing videos are just the beginning,” said Weinberg.

By Tony Astran

Louis Colca, associate professor of social work, relies on support from community organizations to interact with foster children for research and service to the region. But a local resource—the College and Community Partnerships minigrant—helped him foster lasting partnerships with agencies while also helping foster youth to excel in computer and social skills.

Colca, one of the first faculty members to apply for and be awarded a CCP minigrant, received two: $500 in 2007 and $800 last year.

He used the first toward a computer literacy program he developed called “Focus on Youth,” which trains adolescents how to work with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Together with the Center for Development of Human Services (CDHS), Child and Family Services, the Erie County Department of Social Services, and Global Village Therapeutic Foster Care, Colca provided a computer and training classes for each child.

In conjunction with Erie Community College’s Career Development Program, Colca applied his second minigrant toward a 10-month program for foster teens from the Erie County Department of Social Services and Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth. The teens performed teambuilding exercises, participated in an etiquette dinner at Campus House, and took part in 20 hours of career-development classes. The minigrant primarily provided funds to transport the youths to various sites for a variety of new experiences and to Buffalo State, where they gained exposure to life on campus.

Colca worked with about a dozen youths in each program. He believes the programs will have long-term benefits as well. He thinks some of the teens might eventually choose to attend Buffalo State, and that the programs help bolster the college’s image and its connections with local agencies.

The programs also allow some of Colca’s undergraduate students to participate in independent study. “The experience becomes a talking point in class,” he said. “Our students say the observation and participation is one of their best learning experiences because they get to directly see how to engage with foster children and foster families.”

Colca believes that while foster children are often at high risk for delinquent behavior, activities like those supported by the minigrants result in strong bonds of support between the youths. He said that three of the teens so far have successfully applied for paid internships as a result of skills they learned during the 10-month program.

“Foster children need a strong peer group,” he said. “Many need support to get through the perceived stigma associated with foster care. Our programs are just one of many factors that help them mature, but they make a difference.”

By Phyllis Camesano

The Buffalo State College Council announced Monday that it will recommend Dennis K. Ponton, provost and vice president for academic affairs, as interim president of the college, effective August 1. Ponton’s recommendation is expected to be confirmed later this month at a meeting of the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees.

SUNY bylaws charge the College Council, a committee composed of 10 members—nine appointees of the governor of New York and one elected student representative—with selection of the interim president and coordination of the formal search process. Over the past three weeks, opinions of college and community leaders and constituent groups were sought through individual and group meetings, as well as a special Web site.

“After several weeks of consultations with various campus and community stakeholders, we are confident that Provost Ponton has the exemplary leadership and breadth of administrative and scholarly experience to lead Buffalo State in a seamless transition to a new president,” said College Council Vice Chair Howard A. Zemsky, who heads the Presidential Search Committee. “We thank everyone for their thoughtful input and the speed with which they responded.”

Ponton has devoted his career to higher education, including 32 years of faculty and administrative roles at Buffalo State. He joined the college as a faculty member in 1977 and served as interim provost from 1998 to 2000 before being appointed to his current position in 2003.

He holds a B.A. in biology, an M.S. in zoology, and a Ph.D. in agricultural biochemistry from West Virginia University. Before coming to Buffalo State, he held faculty appointments at the Pennsylvania State University and at West Virginia University. Prior to his current position as provost, Ponton served as chair and associate professor of the Nutrition and Food Science Department, interim dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Education, and associate vice president for budget and planning in Academic Affairs.

Ponton is also the operations manager for the Buffalo State College Research Foundation, accreditation liaison officer to the Middle State Commission on Higher Education, and convener for the Buffalo Niagara Council of Chief Academic Officers.

“I am honored by the recommendation and appreciate the support of the College Council,” Ponton said. “I look forward to continuing the positive outcome and momentum established by Dr. Howard’s leadership.”

Muriel A. Howard, Buffalo State’s current president, announced in March that she had accepted a new position as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), in Washington, D.C. In coming weeks, Zemsky will oversee the formation and convening of a formal presidential search committee charged with selecting a new president within the next year.

By Mary A. Durlak

Buffalo State College will hold its 137th Commencement celebration on Saturday, May 16, in the college Sports Arena. More than 2,500 students will receive their degrees during two baccalaureate ceremonies and one master’s hooding and C.A.S. ceremony. The college will award a SUNY honorary doctor of letters to playwright Marsha Norman, keynote speaker for both undergraduate ceremonies. Alan November, educational technology consultant, will deliver the commencement address at the 6:00 p.m. master’s hooding and C.A.S. ceremony.

Distinguished Alumnus Awards and President’s Distinguished Service Awards also will be presented during the three ceremonies.

Norman is a Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and co-chair of the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at the Juilliard School. A former journalist and screenwriter, Norman has also received Tony and Drama Desk awards, the Oppenheimer Award, the John Gassner Playwriting Medallion, and an American Theatre Critics Association citation. She won the Pulitzer for her gripping drama ’Night, Mother (1983), in which a divorced woman who lives with her widowed mother announces her intention to commit suicide.

A frequent lecturer and essayist, Norman was formerly the vice president of the Dramatists Guild of America and is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. She serves on the boards of Agnes Scott College, her alma mater, and the Writers Guild of America East Foundation.

November, senior partner and founder of November Learning, is an author and international leader in education technology. He was co-founder of the Stanford Institute for Educational Leadership through Technology and was selected as one of the original five national Christa McAuliffe Educators.

November was named one of the nation’s 15 most influential thinkers of the decade by Technology and Learning magazine. He was also listed as one of eight educators to provide leadership into the future by the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse in 2001. In 2007 he was selected to speak at the Cisco Public Services Summit during the Nobel Prize festivities in Stockholm.

His areas of expertise include planning across the curriculum, staff development, new school design, community building, and leadership development. November holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard University.

The following graduates of the Class of 2009 will be recognized for their academic and extracurricular achievements, leadership, and service:

President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Jenelle Orosz earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary English education with a GPA of 3.95 while competing on the college’s varsity women’s indoor and outdoor track and field team and serving as its captain for three years. She made Buffalo State history as the first female track and field athlete to become an All-American in 2007, and she made the all-SUNYAC track and field team three times. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the national honor society for educators; the Buffalo State All College Honors Program; and the National Council of Teachers of English. She presented her work at the 2007 American Educational Studies Association Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.

Huewayne Watson earned a bachelor of arts in history and a minor in African and African American studies with a cumulative GPA of 3.58. He received the outstanding junior award from the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. He also is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, and the Buffalo State All College Honors Program. He has served the college as executive vice president of United Students Government and as a student representative on the President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity, the Commencement Committee, and the College Senate Budget and Staff Allocations Committee. He also served as a research intern for the Buffalo Common Council North District Office.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Gertrude Antwi earned a dual bachelor of arts degree with majors in biology (GPA 3.95) and chemistry (GPA 3.86). Her campus involvement includes the Pan African Students Organization, the Chemistry Club, the Buffalo State College Newman Center, and United Students Government. Her awards include the Biology Honors Research Award, the C-STEP Recognition Award for achieving the highest GPA in 2006–2007, and the Greatbatch Enterprises Inorganic/Physical Chemistry Award. She is a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, the national honor society for chemistry students; Iota Sigma Pi, the national honor society for women in chemistry; the Buffalo State All College Honors Program, and the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.

Aimee Levesque earned a master of arts in English with a GPA of 3.89. She is interested in eighteenth- and nineteenth- century literature, and she is developing a specialization in the relatively new field of disability theory. Levesque’s efforts as an advocate for special-needs children have been recognized with several awards, including the National PTA Healthy Lifestyles Award, the PTA Advocate in Action Award, and the National PTA Unit Achievement Award. She has presented her work and served as panel chair at several professional conferences, including the 2009 American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies conference in Richmond, Virginia, and she helped found Buffalo State’s English Club and Sigma Tau Delta.

Lai Sze Wan earned a bachelor of science in forensic chemistry with a cumulative GPA of 3.92. She received two Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships and presented at several conferences, including the American Chemical Society Northeast Regional Meeting. She has also coauthored articles that appeared in scientific journals, including the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. A student of Buffalo State’s All College Honors Program, Wan received a number of awards, including the Greatbatch Enterprises Organic Chemistry Award for outstanding performance in organic chemistry and a certificate of recognition for outstanding job performance during her internship at the New York Police Department.

President’s Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Diego Uribe Larach earned a master of science degree in creative studies with a GPA of 4.0. Uribe Larach captured the attention of Tufts University’s Visual Understanding Environment’s software team for his design of classroom and meeting space within the virtual world Second Life. He has been invited to contribute a related article to a special issue of Creativity and Innovation Management, a European refereed journal. Uribe Larach also served as a creativity and innovation trainer and consultant to clients that include Xerox, IBM, and Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile.

Buffalo State College Council Medal

Dominique Gabriel served as the Buffalo State College Council’s 2008–2009 student representative. Her campus leadership roles also include treasurer and president of United Students Government (USG), treasurer of the Caribbean Students Organization, and service on a number of campuswide committees. She graduates with a bachelor of arts in political science and a minor in public administration.